Chapter 7: Arena Competition
Shortly after they departed, several streaks of light descended from the sky. This three-person adventure team had arrived in the Demon Suppression Land. The leader, a man in his thirties, held a simple compass that pointed exactly to where Honghong had been moments before.
"It's strange that something disappeared after arriving here," the man said, puzzled.
"Brother Yan, look," said the man with sharp features, pointing at a patch of green.
"How could there be life here? The treasure must have affected this area. It seems someone got here first." Since ancient times, no green plants had existed within a hundred miles of the Demon Suppression Land, so the sudden appearance of greenery caught their attention.
"Come on, they can't have gone far," Yan Hong commanded, leading the other two in the direction Honghong and her companions had gone.
Meanwhile, in the Demon Suppression City, built on the edge of the Demon Suppression Land, was bustling. Gu Changsheng strolled into the city, noting it was much livelier than Xuanwu City. Monks were everywhere, and occasionally, a powerful Void-Refining Realm warrior would appear.
"Who do you think will win the arena competition?" someone asked nearby.
"Of course, it's Nine Swordsman Li Beifei."
"You're wrong, it's definitely Shangguan Wuji, the successor the Tyrant Sword."
"Don't underestimate the Tsing Yi Fairy Mu Qingyi."
Listening to their chatter, Gu Changsheng narrowed his eyes. "This will be a good experience for my disciple," he thought, deciding to have Honghong participate in the competition.
He entered a restaurant called Zui Xianju and handed a wine bottle to the waiter. "Fill this up," he said.
The waiter smiled and asked, "Sir, what kind of wine would you like?"
"Whatever," Gu Changsheng replied indifferently. To him, fairy wine and mortal wine were the same.
The waiter's smile widened as he quickly filled the bottle. "Here you go, sir. This is the best Drunk Immortal Brew in our city. It even affects monks in the realm of concentration. That'll be one middle-grade Source Crystal."
Gu Changsheng waved his hand, and two middle-grade source crystals appeared on the table. The waiter's eyes lit up, and he asked eagerly, "Is there anything else you need? I can provide any information you require."
In the cultivation world, it was common to inquire about information in restaurants and inns, and the waiter understood Gu Changsheng's intent.
"What's going on with the arena competition?" Gu Changsheng asked.
"The Arena Competition is a talent selection event organized by the City Lord for the Yin-Yang Sect," the waiter explained. "The top three finishers receive generous rewards and the chance to join the Yin-Yang Sect. Participants must be under eighteen and have an invitation from the City Lord's Mansion."
Gu Changsheng frowned slightly. "What is this Yin-Yang Sect?"
"Sir, be careful what you say," the waiter whispered, glancing around nervously. When he saw no one was listening, he continued, "The Yin-Yang Sect has been around for tens of thousands of years and has produced multiple saints. It's a famous cultivation sect in the Eastern Region, second only to the Immortal Holy Land and ancient families in influence."
"No wonder I don't recognize it," Gu Changsheng said, taking his wine bottle and leaving Zui Xianju.
The waiter watched him go, shaking his head. "This man is really strange. He looks like he's only in his twenties, yet he speaks as if the Yin-Yang Sect is beneath him."
After leaving Zui Xianju, Gu Changsheng did not forget his purpose. He went to a store that sold women's clothes, picked out a few beautiful red outfits, and then headed to the City Lord's Mansion to obtain an invitation letter for the arena competition.
…
Inside the City Lord's Mansion, the Lord of Demon Suppression City was reviewing information about the contestants. "Li Beifei, the Master of the Nine Swords, Shangguan Wuji, the heir to the Tyrant Sword, and Mu Qingyi, the Fairy in Blue, are all sixteen years old and at the peak of the Mortal Realm. They are just one step away from breaking through to Spirit Condensation. It seems the top three will be them."
"Are you the Lord of Demon Suppression City?" a faint voice interrupted. Gu Changsheng appeared in the hall, holding a wine bottle.
The Lord of Demon Suppression City was shocked. As a strong man at the fourth level of Void Refining, he was astounded that someone could approach him silently, indicating the intruder's strength was at least equal to his. "Who are you?" he demanded.
"It doesn't matter who I am. I'm here to negotiate a deal," Gu Changsheng said, glancing around.
The City Lord's alarm grew. Did Gu Changsheng know something? But his authority as the city lord could not be challenged. "Seize him!" he shouted.
Immediately, more than a dozen men in black appeared, surrounding Gu Changsheng. The weakest among them were at the peak of condensation, and the strongest were in the middle stage of void refining. They charged at Gu Changsheng.
…
A while later:
"Sir, have mercy! I did not recognize your greatness. Here is the invitation to the competition. Please accept it." The Lord of Demon Suppression City knelt before Gu Changsheng, his face filled with fear.
He had witnessed Gu Changsheng's terrifying power. The secret guards, even with their combined attack formation capable of fighting mighty beings in the life and death realm, were effortlessly defeated. They exploded like mere mortals in front of Gu Changsheng. More astonishingly, after killing them, Gu Changsheng waved his hand and resurrected the dead guards. This was an unbelievable feat.
After taking the invitation, Gu Changsheng left.
Relieved, the Lord of Demon Suppression City thought the ordeal was over. But then Gu Changsheng returned. His face pale, the city lord knelt again, pleading, "Sir, I didn't mean any offense earlier. I..."
"I never take things by force. This little gift should help you break through the barrier of life and death," Gu Changsheng said, tossing a pill before leaving gracefully.
The Lord of Demon Suppression City was stunned. Recognizing the pill as the legendary Life and Death Barrier-Breaking Pill, which had been lost for ages, he burst into tears of joy. With this pill, he could safely break through to the realm of life and death.
"Thank you, sir, for the medicine!" he cried out, kneeling three times and kowtowing nine times to the sky in gratitude.